Appreciate

“Learn to appreciate what you have before times make you appreciate what you had.” (Anonymous)

There is nothing more appalling than an ungrateful child (or an adult). Jesus knew all about ingratitude when He met ten unnamed lepers on the border between Samaria and Galilee (as is recorded in Luke 17:11-19). Let’s give our ten male lepers the names of “Uzziah, Tobias, Victor, Phineas, Rufus, Kenan, Justus, Ethan, Hiram, and Asher.[i]

“Leprosy is a slowly progressing bacterial infection that affects the skin, peripheral nerves in the hands and feet, and mucous membranes of the nose,  throat, and eyes. Destruction of the nerve endings causes the the affected areas to lose sensation. Occasionally, because of the loss of feeling, the fingers and toes become mutilated and fall off, causing the deformities that are typically associated with the disease.  Leprosy is also known as Hansen’s disease after G. A. Hansen, who in 1878 identified the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae that causes [it].”[ii]

Most people know that lepers were quarantined away from other people and that this was really difficult for them to bear.[iii] Jesus did not follow the norms of His day.  Ten lepers stood a far distance from Jesus (social distanced), and their request of Him is recorded in Luke 17:13 (AMPC): “Jesus, Master, take pity and have mercy on us.”

I do know at this point in the story that lepers were kept in their own living facilities away from other people because leprosy was mildly contagious.[iv] I am unsure if they should have been anywhere in public with others who did not have leprosy. I believe they were desperate from being away from family, and the pain and discomfort of leprosy.

Jesus was in most cases a tactile (touch) person when He healed others. In this case, I believe His wisdom realized with a mildly contagious disease that it might be best to speak the healing that would happen gradually as the lepers went to the priest for eventual clearance back into the community.

The only one of the ten men that came back to thank Jesus was Rufus. It is important to note that Rufus was from Samaria. (Samaritans were considered idolatrous half-breed by the Jews.)  Though we do not know if the other men were Jews, it is the “foreigner” that appeared to remember thank fullness to God when the “hometown boys” did not.[v]

1Thessalonians 5:18 (TLB) says: No matter what happens, always be thankful for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Goes not want you to live a life of ingratitude. We all have so much to be grateful for in our lives. Why not minimize the negative as you choose instead to focus on the positive. As always, the choice is up to you.

 

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[i] “Biblical Boy Names to Show Your Faith” by Mama Natural

 

[ii] “Leprosy” by The Medical Dictionary of the Free Dictionary by Farlex

 

[iii] “What the Law of Moses Said About Leprosy” by JesusChrist.org

 

[iv] “Is Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Contagious?” by Charles Patrick Davis

 

[v] Life Application Bible (New International Version)